NASA plans to establish permanent base in the lunar south pole region by 2032

NASA has plans to create a permanent facility in the lunar south pole area, with completion expected by 2032. This project involves various missions, both robotic and crewed, intended to deliver equipment, assemble structures, and prepare the site for astronauts' arrival.

The central objective is to convert part of the lunar surface into an outpost where people can reside, work, and conduct explorations. To realize this vision, the agency will divide the construction into phases and partner with private companies in developing energy systems, vehicles, and communication equipment.

Implementation will be progressive. The first phase, expected by 2029, will focus on sending robotic equipment, testing technologies, and proving that the necessary infrastructure can be transported and installed on the Moon. These missions will also serve to map terrain conditions and prepare for future human activities.

The second stage, scheduled between 2029 and 2032, will be dedicated to expanding the structure, aiming to install all essential resources for the base's operation. The third phase will only begin once the outpost is operational, although NASA has not yet set an exact date for this milestone.

To manage these missions, the agency has instituted CLPS 2, a new arrangement of long-term contracts with private companies. This program establishes a combined maximum ceiling of US$10 billion (approximately R$54.5 billion) over ten years, without this meaning that the entire amount has been contracted or will be spent immediately.

Eight companies have been selected to participate in this competition: Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, ispace-U.S., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, and Voyager Technologies. This change also aims to increase flexibility in mission organization, as Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, stated that the previous model was rigid, limited to one or two annual missions, and hindered scalability.

One of the first tasks will be to investigate the lunar south pole for vital resources to sustain human presence. For this, NASA will send PROMISE (Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration). This vehicle will be powered by nuclear energy and is set to begin its explorations in late 2028, investigating the soil and searching for volatile materials, such as water ice, which is crucial for future operations.

The rover will be equipped with a drill and scientific instruments capable of analyzing both the surface and subsurface, allowing studies in areas inaccessible only through remote imaging. NASA intends to adapt an engineering model used in the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, deployed on Mars, for lunar conditions. The transport of this vehicle will be done by the Blue Moon Mark 1 landing module, provided by Blue Origin.

In addition to rockets, cargo transport and equipment movement in orbit, as well as the development of terrestrial and inter-crew communication systems, will be fundamental. The VADR program, focused on commercial launch and space transport missions, will participate in these tests, with goals such as demonstrating cargo transfer between Earth and lunar orbit, testing navigation with the CAPSTONE 2 mission, and conducting surface reconnaissance with MoonFall drones.

Companies such as Arrow Science and Technology, Blue Origin, and Impulse Space will be involved in the operations. Launches will utilize rockets like New Glenn (Blue Origin), Falcon 9 (SpaceX), and Terran R (Relativity Space). Communication will be ensured by SpaceX's selection to launch satellites in 2028 using the Starship rocket, creating a lunar network similar to Starlink to maintain contact with astronauts and equipment.

Components of miniCAST, a tower intended to provide power and communication on the Moon, will be developed by other companies, including Honeybee Robotics, Redwire, and Yank Technologies. With all these actions, NASA seeks not only to ensure transport to the south pole but also to establish the necessary conditions for a more stable human presence in the region, transforming lunar exploration into a lasting presence.

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super.abril.com.brNovember 10, 01:34

NASA announces contracts worth up to $10 billion and development of new rover for lunar base

NASA disclosed several details last Saturday, the 7th, regarding vehicles and equipment intended for the Moon as part of its plans to build a lunar base. The project, which has an estimated investment of $20 billion, aims to establish, in stages, humanity's first permanent settlement on the lunar surface.

Among the announced updates are the PROMISE nuclear rover mission, scheduled to reach the Moon in 2028; a new contractual agreement worth up to $10 billion for private company supplies on the lunar surface; and six service orders, valued at about $1.3 billion, designated for the launch and orbital transport of supplies to the lunar base.

The initial phase of the undertaking involves the PROMISE nuclear rover mission (which stands for Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration). During a press conference held at the MAX POWER event, the agency announced that it plans to launch this vehicle to the Moon in late 2028, targeting an 18-month mission at the lunar south pole.

This rover will be equipped with scientific instruments, cameras, and a drill, with the purpose of analyzing the subsurface and terrain, assessing available resources, and generating crucial data for site selection and future activities at the lunar base. Because it is powered by nuclear energy, it will have the capacity to operate continuously during the long lunar nights and in permanently shadowed areas where ice may exist.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which specializes in robotic exploration of the Solar System, will be responsible for managing the mission and building the rover. The agency mentioned that the availability of test models and spare parts from the Martian rovers Curiosity and Perseverance will allow for cost reduction and acceleration in the delivery of PROMISE.

After completion, the rover will be transported to the Moon by Blue Origin. NASA signed a base contract with this company worth $94 million, with the potential for an additional $140 million, depending on the success of delivering PROMISE to the lunar south pole. Blue Origin is expected to use its Mark 1 landing module to deploy the rover.

Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, stated at the Saturday event: 'We are building the Lunar Base mission by mission.' He added that the announcements made that day expand virtually all aspects of this campaign, following the methodology that guided NASA during its most grandiose periods: flying frequently, learning, applying those lessons, and improving with each new mission.

The type of contract offered to Blue Origin is part of the CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program. Instead of developing and operating its own cargo vehicles, NASA outsources the service to American private companies, allowing the sending of robots, landers, and scientific equipment to the Moon.

To expand this service modality, the agency announced at this Saturday's press conference a new contract with several suppliers, whose maximum combined value reaches $10 billion over ten years. This amount sets an upper limit for all future services and does not represent amounts already paid to participating companies.

Eight companies were selected for the next stage of this initiative: Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, ispace-U.S., Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, SpaceX, and Voyager Technologies. These companies are qualified to participate in future lunar surface landing missions under the new contract named CLPS 2.

Additionally, NASA granted six service orders totaling approximately $1.3 billion for the orbital transport of lunar base cargo. These orders were directed to Arrow Science and Technology, Blue Origin, and Impulse Space, and are not part of CLPS, as they belong to VADR, a program focused on reducing the launch costs of less complex or more risk-tolerant space missions.

In March of this year, NASA presented its ambitious plan to create a permanent lunar base at the Moon's south pole by 2032. According to the agency, the Moon Base project aims to establish a constant human presence in space, foster scientific advancements, and serve as a starting point for future crewed missions to Mars.

It is foreseen that exploratory vehicles and other structures will already be positioned on the Moon to receive human crews as soon as they arrive. Isaacman commented that 'the missions themselves will help us characterize an environment we have not visited in a long time.'

This planning is already underway. The first steps were taken through the Artemis missions, designed to transport humans to the Moon. In April, four astronauts completed a trip around the satellite and returned as part of the Artemis II mission, reaching a distance from Earth greater than any human feat in the history of space exploration.

The next phase is Artemis III, scheduled for mid-2027. This mission will not go to the Moon but will orbit low Earth orbit, where the crew will test the connection of the Orion capsule with prototypes of landing modules developed by SpaceX (Starship) and Blue Origin (Blue Moon), vital components for future lunar landings. Artemis IV will be the mission that will take humans back to the lunar surface for the first time in over fifty years, in 2028.

olhardigital.com.brOctober 30, 13:19

Moon Phase on October 30, 2026: Information from the National Meteorological Institute

On October 30, 2026, the Moon is in the full moon phase and is visible at 72%. According to data from the National Meteorological Institute (Inmet), a complete calendar of lunar phases for this month has been provided.

The lunar phases in October 2026 began on the 3rd with the waning Moon phase at 10:26 Brazilian time. Then, on the 10th, the New Moon occurred at 12:50. The waxing Moon appeared on the 18th at 13:13. The Full Moon phase ended on the 26th at 1:13.

A lunation, or lunar cycle, is the period between new moons and has an average duration of 29.5 days. During this period, the Moon goes through four main phases: new moon, waxing, full moon, and waning. Each of these phases lasts approximately seven days.

There are also intermediate phases: the waxing quarter and waxing gibbous, which are observed between the new moon and the full moon; as well as the waning gibbous and waning quarter between the full moon and the new moon.

Description of Lunar Phases

During the New Moon, the satellite is located between the Earth and the Sun. This results in the illuminated side of the Moon facing the Sun, while the dark side faces us. Because of this, the Moon is not visible in the night sky. This phase marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is associated with rebirth and new opportunities.

After the New Moon, the waxing phase appears. Gradually, a small illuminated strip begins to appear in the sky, which increases every night. Initially, only a thin ray of light is visible, but as the days pass, the illuminated part grows until half of the Moon becomes visible, which is called the Waxing Quarter. This phase symbolizes growth, development, and building new paths.

During the Full Moon phase, the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. This allows the side of the Moon facing us to receive full light, making it completely visible and bright in the sky. This is a period of maximum light intensity, when the Moon rises exactly at sunset. The Full Moon is associated with completeness, the culmination of processes, and peak energy.

After the Full Moon, the Moon's light gradually begins to decrease. Every night, we see less and less illuminated surface. When only half is visible, the Waning Quarter occurs, which is the opposite of the Waxing Quarter. The Moon continues to lose brightness until it reaches the New Moon again, restarting the cycle. The waning phase symbolizes reflection, completion, and preparation for new beginnings.

Today, the Moon is in the Full Moon phase.

olhardigital.com.brOctober 28, 13:13

Moon Phase on October 28, 2026: Information about the Lunar Cycle

On October 28, 2026, the Moon was in the full phase, showing 89% visibility. The complete calendar of lunar phases for October 2026 was released by the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet).

The lunar phases in October 2026 began on the 3rd with the Waning Moon at 10:26 AM Brasília time. Subsequently, the New Moon occurred on the 10th at 12:50 PM. The Waxing Moon appeared on the 18th at 1:13 PM, and the Full Moon happened on the 26th at 1:13 AM.

A lunar cycle, also known as lunation, is the time interval between two new moons and has an average duration of 29.5 days. During this period, the Moon passes through the four main phases: new, waxing, full, and waning, with each phase lasting approximately seven days.

In addition to these main phases, there are so-called 'interphases,' which include the first quarter and the gibbous crescent (located between the new and full phases), and the waning gibbous and the last quarter (located between the full and waning phases).

Details about Lunar Phases

During the New Moon phase, the satellite is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. This results in only the side illuminated towards the Sun, while the dark side faces us, making the Moon invisible in the night sky. This phase signals the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is linked to renewal and new opportunities.

After the New Moon, the Waxing phase begins. Slowly, a thin illuminated band starts to be observed in the sky, and this illumination progressively increases each night. Initially, only a faint arc of light is seen, but as the days advance, the illuminated area grows until it reaches half of the Moon, a stage called First Quarter. This phase represents development, growth, and the building of new paths.

In the Full Moon phase, the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. This configuration allows the entire lunar face facing us to receive light, making it completely visible and bright in the firmament. This is the period of maximum luminous intensity, occurring when the Moon rises on the horizon simultaneously with sunset. The Full Moon is associated with fullness, the peak of processes, and energy at its highest point.

After the Full Moon, the lunar luminosity begins to gradually decline. Each night, a decrease in the illuminated surface is observed. When half of the Moon is visible, the Last Quarter occurs, which is the opposite of the First Quarter. The Moon continues to lose brightness until it returns to the New Moon, thus restarting the cycle. The Waning phase symbolizes reflection, closure, and preparation for subsequent beginnings.